L.A. Votes: Candidates to debate after brief respite from stumping

Los Angeles' mayoral candidates halted their public campaign activities on Tuesday and expressed sorrow over the explosions that killed three people and injured more than 170 the prior day at the Boston Marathon.

City Controller Wendy Greuel and City Councilman Eric Garcetti were buffeted by criticism during the primary of failing to offer specifics on how they would fix Los Angeles' budget woes. On Monday, Greuel said she would seek an extra $175 million in savings from the city's budget by using strategies such as cutting the council's discretionary funds and changing the investment practices of employee retirement systems.

Greuel also got a financial boost from EMILY’s List, the political action committee that is committed to electing pro-choice Democratic women. The group, which endorsed Greuel in March, put $400,000 into an independent effort to back her bid.

Greuel and Garcetti will debate Wednesday evening at the Sherman Oaks Homeowners’ Assn., one of a flurry of faceoffs scheduled for coming days. Garcetti will visit an elementary school in the morning.

The man they are trying to replace, termed-out Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, took a swing through Sacramento on Tuesday to urge state legislators to pass new gun-control measures. He demurred when asked at the Sacramento Press Club if he had a preference in Los Angeles’ mayoral race.